Outcomes of Three High-Level Meetings in Avaza Presented at the OSCE Permanent Council

Vienna, 15 October 2026 — At the 1581st meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council, the Delegation of Turkmenistan presented the outcomes of three major meetings held in Avaza on 8–9 October: the Eighth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and Azerbaijan, the CIS Summit and the First Caspian Environmental Summit.

Though different in format and focus, all three advanced a shared agenda: stronger political dialogue, regional connectivity, environmental security and sustainable development.

Stronger Regional Links

The Central Asia–Azerbaijan meeting deepened dialogue across the Caspian region. Leaders discussed peace and stability, trade, transport, energy, innovation and humanitarian cooperation, with particular attention to Turkmenistan’s proposed Central Asia–Caspian Sea–South Caucasus–Europe transport route and its Smart City Diplomacy initiative.

A Joint Statement and new regulatory documents also strengthened the institutional framework for future consultations.

Momentum for Sustainable Transport

At the CIS Summit, hosted by Turkmenistan as the organization’s 2026 Chair, leaders designated 2029 as the Year of CIS Transport Connectivity, an initiative proposed by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

The decision is expected to support transport corridors, trade and resilient supply chains. It complements Turkmenistan’s wider advocacy for sustainable transport, including the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport for 2026–2035.

A Shared Response for the Caspian

The First Caspian Environmental Summit brought together the five littoral States to address the sea’s declining water level and the growing risks to biodiversity, coastal communities, transport and economic activity.

Turkmenistan proposed a Commission on the Shallowing of the Caspian Sea, an interstate water-conservation programme, and stronger scientific monitoring, underscoring that challenges of this scale demand coordinated, evidence-based action.

From Avaza to the OSCE

The Delegation emphasized that security, economic development and environmental sustainability are increasingly interconnected. The Avaza outcomes offer practical avenues for cooperation with the OSCE in confidence-building, sustainable transport, climate resilience, early warning and disaster risk reduction.

Reaffirming Turkmenistan’s commitment to permanent neutrality, preventive diplomacy and constructive multilateral dialogue, the briefing delivered a clear message: political dialogue is most valuable when it leads to practical cooperation and shared solutions.